Kenyan Tea: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Unique Qualities and Why Importers Prefer It
- Christine Simon
- Sep 15, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: May 14
"Tea is tea, right?"
That's a question I often hear. While it might seem straightforward, tea is far more complex and diverse than most realise.
Tea is an infusion made from the tender leaves of a single plant species, Camellia Sinensis. The plant concentrates its active ingredients and flavourings predominantly in its youngest leaves and the unopened bud. These parts create the finest quality tea when hand-picked and carefully processed.
The young bud highlights the subtleties and unique characteristics of a cultivar and its terroir, often contributing floral and fruity notes to the tea. In contrast, older, larger leaves provide more earthy flavours.
The journey of a tea flush involves many factors influencing the final product. Processing methods such as CTC, the region where the tea is grown, and the timing of the harvest all play crucial roles in determining the tea's unique characteristics.
For potential tea importers, understanding these nuances is vital. It enables you to make informed decisions and offer distinctive teas that stand out in competitive markets.
Kenyan Two Leaves and a Bud Standard
In Kenya, the picking standard of "two leaves and a bud" is established as the ideal for many tea types. This method balances the diverse taste characteristics of the bud and the leaves, ensuring a high-quality, flavourful tea.
This standard is essential for importers seeking superior tea products that deliver consistent and exceptional taste profiles.
Tea Varieties in Kenya
Although tea-growing countries can produce various types of tea, each country has a long-established culture of its own. Kenya primarily produces CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) tea, with Black Tea being the most common variety. Kenyan Orthodox Tea, although less prevalent, is popular in specialty markets such as the Middle East, Turkey, and Iran.
The CTC method enhances tea’s strength and brightness, making it ideal for tea bags and blends.
Kenyan CTC tea is highly sought after internationally for its consistent quality and strong flavor profile. It is meticulously graded by particle size using various meshes, resulting in well-known grades such as:
Broken Pekoe 1 (BP1)
Pekoe Fanning 1 (PF1)
Pekoe Dust (PD)
Dust
Broken Mixed Fanning (BMF).
These grades are then bid for at the Mombasa Tea Auction in preparation for export.
Kenyan Orthodox Tea
While CTC dominates, Kenyan Orthodox Tea is produced in smaller quantities. Though not as widely recognised as Sri Lankan Orthodox Tea, it is gaining popularity in niche markets for its unique qualities.
Kenyan Orthodox Tea is typically hand-processed, preserving leaf integrity and delivering nuanced flavours. Grown in ideal tropical climates with rich volcanic soils, it features a distinctive taste profile, including malty flavours and floral notes.
For importers, Kenyan Orthodox Tea presents an opportunity to cater to specialty markets seeking unique, high-end tea experiences.
Tea Growing Regions in Kenya
Kenyan Tea farms thrive in the highland areas on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. The unique geography allows tea bushes to flourish under favourable weather patterns of rainfall and adequate sunlight throughout the year. These regions are renowned for their fertile soils and optimal growing conditions.
East of Rift: Over 500,000 small-scale tea farms managed by KTDA (Kenya Tea Development Agency)
West of Rift: Large multinational companies dominate production and exports managed by KTGA (Kenya Tea Growers Association).
These regulatory bodies have bargaining agreements with workers and some are rainforest alliance certified to create a sustainable tea industry for workers, farmers, and the environment with hilly forests surrounding many plantations.
Kenyan Tea Production: Reliable Supply for Importers
In 2024, Kenya exported approximately 594.5 million kg of CTC black tea, accounting for nearly 90% of its total CTC production. This impressive output highlights Kenya’s unmatched ability to consistently meet global demand.
Thanks to minimal seasonal quality variations, Kenyan tea offers a reliable, year-round supply of high-quality products. This consistency makes it a preferred choice for importers and tea packers focused on maintaining strong brand reputations and earning consumer trust.
With dependable production levels and a robust export infrastructure, Kenya minimises sourcing risks for buyers, providing a strategic advantage in competitive global tea markets.
Read more about the Kenya tea industry Report on the 2024 performance highlights below:
Why is Kenyan Tea Different? Unique Characteristics of Kenyan Tea
Kenya’s tropical climate, deep volcanic soils, and high-altitude growing conditions create the perfect environment for premium tea. These factors contribute to high antioxidant activity, enhancing the health benefits and flavour complexity of Kenyan tea.
Farmers use sustainable, organic practices without agrochemicals, resulting in a clean, health-conscious product. These qualities make Kenyan tea an excellent choice for importers seeking premium, nutritious teas that align with modern consumer preferences.
Kenyan Tea Taste Profile
Kenyan tea is known for its full-bodied character, brisk flavour, and aromatic quality. The liquor ranges from delicate amber to bright coppery hues, ideal for blending and standalone consumption.
For importers, the versatile taste profile makes Kenyan tea suitable for:
Did you know that 80% of the tea used in Ireland’s Barry’s Tea blends is sourced from Kenya and Rwanda? This underscores Kenya’s reputation for delivering consistently high-quality teas trusted by leading global brands.
Green and Purple Tea in Kenya
Kenya also produces specialty teas like green, white, and the increasingly popular Purple Tea. Rich in anthocyanin, Kenyan Purple Tea offers health benefits such as weight management and antioxidant support.
Purple Tea is grown primarily in the colder regions of Mount Kenya and the Nandi Hills.
The development of purple tea highlights Kenya's innovation in tea production, creating new opportunities for health-focused tea products in the global market.
Read more about the health benefits of Kenyan Green and Purple Tea here.
Benefits of Kenyan Tea For Your Business
Kenyan tea offers:
A wide range of varieties
Sustainable and ethical production practices
Consistent, year-round supply
Distinct taste and nutritional value
Private label and value addition opportunities
Tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s an emotional connection for consumers, accompanying moments of comfort, celebration, and wellness.
This understanding allows for the creation of unique Kenyan tea blends that stand out in a competitive market, fostering brand loyalty and increasing your sales.
We have assisted tea importers by helping them make more informed decisions, cater to diverse consumer preferences and tap into niche markets.
Contact us today to discuss how we can support your business with premium Kenyan tea solutions.
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